Advent Reflection - Shepherds

 07 December 2023

Out in the fields. A group of shepherds stood guard over their flock that night. Such flocks were always needed for the sacrifices of the Temple at Jerusalem. A mere six miles away. Informed of the birth by an angel. The shepherds went to Bethlehem. They found the babe. Wrapped in swaddling clothes. Lying in a manger. And they repeated the message they had received. For some. The shepherds’ words were a passing wonder, “but Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19).

By faith we journey with them to Bethlehem. For this good news of Jesus’ birth was given by the angel to shepherds who went to see the new- born king.

With the shepherds we visit the new-born king. The shepherds were keeping watch. To guard the flock against thieves and robbers. Into the night of the world Jesus came as the true Light. A symbol of this truth was the heavenly light.

A question. Why is it that so few experience the true joy of Christmas? 

The answer. Is that they have not heard the good news. Told by the angel to these shepherds. It is told to you this day. 

The source of our joy is found in these words: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”   Luke 2:11

Who is born? “To you is born this day a Savior.” This is good news. For those in need of a Savior. And when is He born? “This day!” Christmas is an everyday experience. Not a historical observance. Of an ancient event. Today is the day of salvation. This is the day the Lord has made. Now He is making all things new.

Transition: “To you is born a Savior.” We now tell His story with joy.

Like the shepherds we share His story with others. The shepherds were afraid. In the face of the divine glory. And holiness. But they had no need to fear. Because the angel’s message was not of judgment. But of salvation. Not only to the shepherds. But to all people.

To whom is He born? He is born “to you.” “To you is born this day a Savior.” It is not Christmas for you unless Christ is re-born in you. Thus we can say with the hymn writer: “Cans out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.”

 The Christmas story is for real. It was to real live humans that the story of the Christ child was delivered. The first announcement of this birth came to a despised people. It came not to the rulers. The educated. The scribes. Or the pious Pharisees. This news came not to the elite. But to shepherds. – The despised. Unlearned. Crude. Rough people. Those listed with publicans and sinners. For He is a real Savior. Who has come to save real sinners. In His birth. Suffering. Passion. Death and resurrection. There is forgiveness, salvation, and life.

Words-510
Passive Sentences –6.4%
Readability – 88.9%
Reading Level -2.3

Thursday prior to Advent 2

 

2 Peter 3:8–14—Isaiah wrote his prophecy of the coming of Christ seven hundred years before He came. It must have seemed an interminable amount of time for those who lived during those years, wondering when God would fulfill His promises. But the Apostle Peter reminds us that the Lord has His own timetable, and a good purpose for accomplishing things in His own time. He further admonishes us to be ready for the Lord’s Second Coming at any time, and to live lives of holiness and godliness waiting for that day.

These days leading up to the celebration of Christmas might seem at times overwhelming with an entire laundry list of things which need to be accomplished before the celebrations can begin. There are gifts to purchase, cards to send, a house to be made ready, sweets to be baked and decorated. With so much activity we can so easily become distracted that we lose sight of the reasons for such preparations in the first place.

The Advent season helps us regain our focus and thus a perspective. The message of Advent is simple. We prepare for the Lord’s second coming so that we may rejoice when we annually celebrate His first coming. When we focus on the fact that the Lord’s second return will arrive at the proper time we can see our preparations for Christmas in a new light.

A sainted pastor and mentor would often say, “When reckoned in the councils of God, who cares!” That’s a good perspective. Our focus should be twofold. In the Advent season preparing for the Lord’s final visitation helps us get ready to celebration His entrance into our world. The birth of a baby led to the death of a man who will usher in His kingdom at the proper time. That’s your focus for this day. Set your sights on what is to come. It is enough. Everything will fall into place. And if your “Do Do” list isn’t complete by week’s end, “when reckoned in the councils of God, who cares!”

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Protect us by your strength and save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[1]

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Advent © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[1] Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St Louis

Wednesday prior to Advent 2

 

Isaiah 40:1–11— In Advent 1 we were assured that Jesus is coming again. This Sunday we prepare for His coming. In the Old Testament lesson, the Lord calls for a way to be prepared for His coming.

The book of Isaiah is centered on the Babylonian exile, which began in 586 B.C. when Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylonia destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and enslaved the Jewish people. The exile ended in 539 B.C. when Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild their temple. The book of Isaiah makes it clear that Nebuchadrezzar was God’s instrument to punish the Jewish people for their sins, and Cyrus will be the LORD’s instrument to set them free—to redeem them.

‘Comfort, comfort my people,’ the Lord instructs Isaiah. Release from the bondage of sin is at hand. The voice crying in the wilderness shall prepare the way for the glory of the Lord to be revealed. The Word of God, which stands forever, shall assume flesh in order to bring comfort to the people by removing the blot of iniquity. Then He shall ‘tend his flock like a shepherd.’

Not only is Isaiah speaking comfort to a people enslaved in a foreign land but he sees way into the future; fulfilled in the preaching of John the Baptist who prepared the way for the Savior. Here is double comfort. In Advent we prepare for the coming Savior. Just as the exiles find comfort in the promise of liberation from slavery how much more will our comfort be realized when we understand by faith that Christ came offering forgiveness, life and salvation. Christ came not to destroy sinners but to save them; to bring life to the people of earth (See Isaiah 52:10; 60:1-3) During this time of Advent we also anticipate the certain return of Christ our Savior. There will be a time when “the Son of Man comes in His glory” to judge “all the nations.” (Matthew 25:31-32)[1]

Collect for Advent 2—Stir up our Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[2]

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Advent © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[1] Concordia Study Bible, ©2009 Concordia Publishing House., St. Louis
[2] Collect for Advent 2, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Tuesday prior to Advent 2

 

Psalm 85—This psalm was possibly written soon after the return of the exiles from Babylon (Vv.1-3). This psalm expresses the psalmist’s feeling of distress and exposure to anger as there was opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls after the return. See Nehemiah  4:16-23

The format of the Psalm is as follows:

Vv. 1-3             restoration

Vv. 4-7             a plea to restore again

Vv. 8-9             The LORD’s spoken word of peace

Vv.10-13          The LORD will give only what is good

This is yet another psalm asking God for restoration, Psalm 85 recounts the forgiveness of the Lord in the past, and prays that He might once again make known His steadfast love, and mercy.

With confidence, the psalmist can say, ‘Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.’ For the steadfast love and faithfulness of the Lord do meet in the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; there, righteousness and peace kiss each other (verse 10).

As the LORD returned to His people what they lost in the Babylonian exile so much more He restores us in the coming of His Son Jesus who was born to return us back to the LORD.

Says St. Paul, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” -Colossians 1:13-14 In the coming of Jesus we are rescued, redeemed, restored and forgiven.

Collect for Psalm 85: God of love and faithfulness, you so loved the world that you gave your only Son to be our Savior. Help us to receive him as both Lord and brother and freely celebrate him as our gracious Redeemer now and forever. Amen[1]

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[1] Collect for Psalm 85, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
Advent: © Ed Riojas, Higher Things 

Monday prior to Advent 2

 

Psalm 80:1, 8a, 9b, 7; Antiphon, Psalm 80:3— “Restore us, O God; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” The whole purpose of Jesus coming into this world was to save us. In these weeks counting down to Christmas, we remember that Jesus entered time and space to be our Savior. As He came at just the right time to redeem us, He will appear at the right time to receive us into glory. His timing is impeccable; His ways are perfect.

The psalmist prays for the restoration of God’s people, remembering the deliverance God wrought through Joseph. In Advent, we, too, pray for restoration—restoration from the bondage of sin. The vine out of Egypt of verse 8 recalls the flight of the Christ-child into Egypt to avoid Herod’s persecution. That Vine has taken deep root and filled the land and it is through Christ, who is the Vine, that we have been restored.

[1]

Collect for Psalm 80 - Lord God, you so tend the vine you planted that now it extends its branches even to the farthest shore. Keep us in your Son as branches on the vine, that, rooted firmly in your love, we may testify before the whole world to your great power working everywhere; through Jesus Christ our Lord. [2]

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[1] Image of the Flight into Egypt, Schnorr von Carolsfeld, woodcuts © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use.
 
[2] Collect for Psalm 80, For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol.III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
Advent © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

 

Advent 2 - Series B notes

 

Advent 2 - Series B 

Isaiah 40:1–11

2 Peter 3:8–14
Mark 1:1–8
 
You Are Prepared through Repentance for the Coming of the Lord

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; 

“The gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1) begins when John the Baptist appears and comes “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). As the prophet Isaiah had written, John is the messenger of the Lord, sent before His face to prepare His way. To this day, the ministry of the forerunner continues in the preaching of the Law and the Gospel and in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. By these ways and means, “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5), and the Good Shepherd “will gather the lambs in his arms” (Isaiah 40:11). He speaks “tenderly to Jerusalem,” and He comforts His people by pardoning their iniquity (Isaiah 40:1–2). What is more, He promises “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Repent, therefore, and humble yourself as you wait for His coming in peace (2 Peter 3:14), because He “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

In fulfillment of the words of the Prophets Isaiah and Malachi, John comes to prepare the people for the coming promised One. 

The coming of Jesus Christ is Good News (Gospel). Mark proclaims boldly at the outset of his Gospel, but we too must be prepared for His coming. 

John prepared the world in his day, and continues in our day by calling people to repentance urging them to repent and be baptized.  

Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1
Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ. 
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Mark 1:2
Καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ• Ἰδοὺ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου• 
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 

-See Isaiah 40:3 Malachi 3:1; Did John think he was preparing for the 2nd Advent? The coming of Elijah? See Malachi 4:1 See Mark 9:11-13 

Mark 1:3
φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ• Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ,  
the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" 

Mark 1:4
ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.  
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming/ preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 

The baptism of John is only for forgiveness not yet for the Holy Spirit. See Acts 13:24-25 

Mark 1:5
καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται πάντες, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.  
And all the region/country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 

Jordan is the gateway to the Promised Land...

Mark 1:6
καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσθων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον.  
Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

-See 2 Kings 1:7-8; Zachariah 13:4 

Mark 1:7
καὶ ἐκήρυσσεν λέγων• Ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ• 
And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 

See Mark 3:27 the parable of the stronger man, see also the kinsman redeemer in Ruth 4:7ff. 

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 

Mark 1:8
ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. 
I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." - 

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software

Advent logo/image copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

The road which leads to Bethlehem – 
1. Is a straight road of righteousness – See also Isaiah 40:3
2. A level road of humility – See also Isaiah 40:4a 
3. A smooth road of graciousness – See also Isaiah 40:4b 

Saturday prior to Advent 1

 

Matthew 21:1-16 Our reading is the inspiration for the hymn, “O Bride of Christ, Rejoice.” 

O Bride of Christ, rejoice!
Exultant raise thy voice
To hail the day of glory,
Foretold in sacred story.
Refrain
Hosanna, praise and glory,
Our King, we bow before Thee.

How does the Savior choose to make Himself known? Not in pomp and circumstance, not with a grand fanfare and a flurry of light and sound. Instead He chooses to be placed in a manger, the feeding trough of the animals. He is born in a stable where beasts are kept. Not the place you would go looking for the savior of the world.

But this is the amazing thing about our Savior, He chooses to be found in those places the world would least expect. He chooses to reveal Himself in those places the world considers unimportant. He chooses to exert His power in what an unbelieving world considers weak and of little consequence.

The cruel cross of Calvary looks ahead of us even in Advent. Does the death of a condemned man seem compelling enough to offer atonement? Could His life and sacrifice really save you? The surroundings and the circumstances of His birth predict His death. They are the means by which we find peace with God and absolution for our sin.

Collect for Advent 1 -Stir up Your power O Lord and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit.[1]

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[1] Collect for Advent 1, Lutheran Service Book © Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Advent © Ed Riojas, Higher Things